Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the Bill. It was interesting to listen to Deputy Durkan's contribution. As Deputy Flynn noted, he single-handedly brought his party back into the EU fold after the rush of blood to the head his party's finance spokesman, Deputy Bruton, experienced last week when he commented on fiscal sovereignty and the threat to corporation tax rates. Deputy Bruton has been silent on the matter since, as has leader, Deputy Kenny.

It is not a coincidence that there appears to be a little trouble in paradise in respect of the Fine Gael Party in so far as its spokesperson on Europe, Deputy Creighton, has clearly stated she does not have any concerns about the corporation tax issue or EU oversight of Irish budgetary policies. I do not know whether it is coincidental that amendments tabled by the Fine Gael Party are in the name of Deputy Kieran O'Donnell rather than Deputy Richard Bruton. Perhaps the latter is steering clear of business on Europe for the time being.

As the Bill demonstrates, if the Government had not taken difficult but necessary decisions in the past couple of years, Ireland could well be in the position in which Greece finds itself and other parliaments across the eurozone would perhaps be discussing a bailout package for Ireland. It is somewhat disappointing that over the past three budgets the two main Opposition parties have seen fit to oppose the every one of the difficult but necessary measures the Government has taken. Instead of taking a constructive approach, as Fine Gael did with regard to the deposit guarantee scheme, the Opposition has been populist and opportunistic.

The Government has stabilised the deficit and unemployment and the cost of borrowing has reduced markedly in the past 18 months.

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